Having been a sworn law enforcement officer for almost 17 years prior to a disability injury, I found myself in need of a quality, intelligent, overly competent, experienced, honest, trust worthy, and frankly the best trial lawyer around. As stated prior, in my 17 years of law enforcement I have had... cases with many lawyers in all aspect of the law, criminal, civil, family, etc. During my career I always knew that should I, or my family be in a situation requiring the best trial lawyer there would never be a second thought about who to retain, that person being John Painter. I have had thousands of cases with many lawyers over the years. When I was a young officer and throughout my career John Painter taught me a lot about trail law, court precedent, N.C. and U.S. Supreme Court Rulings, as well as court room etiquette. John Painter at times would talk to me after a trial and tell me what I could have done a little better and or what I may have over looked. I know well beyond on a reasonable doubt and after being on the stand and cross examined by John Painter many times that he represented his clients with fierce fervor, dedication, commitment, and always with the best interest of his clients in mind. I say all this as both a private citizen and a prior 17 year law enforcement officer. Moreover, I also know that every law enforcement officer holds John Pinter in high regard and carries a healthy deserved respect for him as a person and lawyer. Many officers may not like me saying this, however I personally and professionally know that all officers have a healthy fear of him trying their cases. John Painter is highly educated in the law, to a degree well beyond the average lawyer. I can't state it enough that he is the best trail lawyer around. Again, during my career I was field training officer for all new officers. I also had a section of instruction and discussion on how to prepare case files, evidence collection, chain of custody, completeness and accuracy in report writing and note taking, and simply doing things the right way. And I always referred to prior cases I had with John Painter as well cases I observed that other officers had with John Painter. Simply put, John Painter is the most qualified, educated, experienced, honest lawyer I am aware of. Yes there are other great lawyers in Union County all of whom I also know personally and professionally. With that being said I highly recommend John Painter if you find yourself in need of the best lawyer, and once again this comes from both being a client of John Painter and also a 17 year career as law enforcement officer. So I feel I have an insight as to John Painter's ability, experience, honesty, and education representing clients and especially trial law. You will not be disappointed, unless you decide not to at least consult with John Painter. And of course a disclaimer, I was not asked nor obligated to write a review, especially this lengthy of a review regarding John Painter. I write this out of my own free will and respect for John Painter as a person and a lawyer. Being a law enforcement officer I am always asked who is the best lawyer, and number one on my list is John Painter. If I retained him, would refer my mom and family members to him, I highly recommend that whom ever reads this review to do the same.

I hired John Painter for a DUI case whereas I was arrested after an accident but was not the person driving the vehicle. After I was arrested and taken downtown to be booked, he showed up to go over with the officers what had happened to justify my arrest. Throughout the next 16 months we went to co...urt, awaiting a trial, while the D.A. tried to come up with witnesses of the accident. As the last court date came he made it clear we were not waiting another month to resolve this matter. Finally we got to trial. During the trial Mr. Painter was at the top of his game, objecting to things that didn't apply to the charges, questioning the prosecuting witnesses in the proper way as to prove that they didn't actually see the accident until after it had happened and everyone was out of the vehicles, and, most importantly, that they had no cause to arrest me. I had injuries from the crash inflected on my right side which is consistent of the crash since we had collided mainly on the passenger side of our vehicle. Besides all of that he was persistent in the fact that regardless of who the accident had happened or, who was driving, there was no cause for me to be arrested under the suspicion of driving while impaired. I must say it is a relief to get out of trouble. But a better relief to get out of being wrongly accused of a crime that you didn't commit. Although I did have to go through getting arrested and booked downtown, and had to take at least one day a month off for 16 months, of which was not at the fault of Mr. Painter but the D.A., in the end it was well worth anything to have an attorney on my side with the knowledge and skill to prove that there was no reason to arrest nor charge me with this act. In fact after the charges were dismissed, the court, gave me another charge of failure to reduce speed which Mr. Painter appealed for the fact that they couldn't prove I was driving in the first place. I would absolutely hire this attorney again, if needed.... but lets hope that doesn't happen again.

Back in January 2007 I was pulled over on Highway 74 in Monroe, NC by a Union County Sheriffs office cop. The cop said I hit a curb and I didn't commit a violation or there was no probable cause to pull me over. Cop asked me was there any weapons and I told him there was a shotgun, boxes, and clothes... because I just moved from my foreclosed house over that past weekend. He asked me to do the field sobriety test blow into the breathalyzer systems. I complied with both request. He never showed me what I blew and he arrested for DWI-Concealed weapons charge in Monroe, NC. When we got back to police station I refuse to blow and the cop shows up a week later with a ticket for going over my restriction of BAC .04. They got my name wrong at the jail and they gave me my license back after I paid $50 to get them and I found out later that day they shouldn't have done that because they were automatically suspended for a year. Luckily I didn't get a DWLR while driving back home from ty courthouses stupidity. After this happened my dad decided to hire John Painter out of Monroe, NC as many said he is the best DWI lawyer in Union County. When we met with Mr. Painter he said he thought he could do something with the case. The cop wasn't even there 3 times in a row and Painter said something to the judge the third time and the judge said new court date. We went to court for over a year and back in 2008. I was 25 minutes late for court and the judge put a warrant for my arrest after court ended that morning in 20 minutes (I have never heard anything like this before). After this happened I was done and out by the whole process. Well years later I decide to turn myself in June 2012 and the cop continues not to show on occasions. Union County Courthouse is crazy as I sat there many times and they not even call my name. Court is suppose to start at 9:30 am and most time they don't even open doors until 10:15 am. and the judge doesn't even come out until 11:00 am (I have never heard of this). I was frustrated at Painter for not getting the case dismissed after the cop not there many times, but then I found out it is out of his hand. Monroe, NC courthouse, DA and cops are corrupt and they set their own rules. My case just ended today April 22, 2013 and John Painter got my DWI dismissed and only thing I got was a $50 Concealed Weapon charge and court cost. I can also get my gun back. If you want to hire Mr. Painter I warn you it is a long process. Painter likes to postpone court dates as he likes to get the judges he likes. You have to stay on Mr. Painter and tell him exactly what you want to do. John Painter is very knowledgable and good against the DA and the judge. Painter is an average lawyer and the system there is not all his fault. You have to beware that Monroe, NC DA, cops, and judges make their own rules and sometimes there isn't much he can do like any of the other lawyers. Monroe, NC is corrupt and my advice is don't drink even a few drinks from a restraunt and hit the road becaust they will try to get you for other things. Avoid Monroe, NC at all cost becuase if you fight anything or try and get it reduced they will scam you to try and get money from you.